November 22 | Love Challenge

November 22, 2019

Join us as we focus each day for nine weeks on a different part of 1 Corinthians 13.Friday: Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.Saturday: It always protects, always trustsSunday: Always hopes, always perseveres.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking. 1 Corinthians 13:5a

TODAY’S MESSAGE

This week has been about putting others above ourselves. Today we are looking at the two connected habits of love, “it does not dishonor others and it is not self-seeking.”

Love treats others with respect. It honors them. This means love isn’t dismissive and listens to their ideas. Love isn’t short with others.

Love is not self-seeking. It is others-seeking. It focuses on the needs and cares of others—as much or more than the needs and cares of ourselves. It wills the good for others and has a real desire for them to succeed.

Our culture tells us love is a feeling we fall in and fall out of. Even when we don’t feel love toward someone, our habits of love tell us to honor them and seek their best. They call us to make a choice. It is possible we will wake up in the morning next to a spouse we don’t feel love toward. But as we begin our day, we need to choose to honor them. Our default setting is to think about what is best for ourselves more than what is best for our co-workers. Love says not to do that. The Culture of the Cross tells us Jesus has a better way. A way where up is down and humility is central.

The holidays are right around the corner. Thanksgiving is less than a week away. We may be stuck in a living room eating at a card table with people we don’t feel like loving. In humility, we can choose to honor them. We can put their needs and cares above ours. It won’t be easy, and we won’t get it right every time. But these Habits of Love can develop in us through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Ask God to develop these Habits of Love in you. Partner with him by focusing on them in the morning and reflecting on them in the evening. Think through your Thanksgiving plans. How can you keep the Habits of Love at the forefront of your mind next week?